State minister: Pay workers' wages, bonus by May 10

State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian on Thursday instructed apparel factory owners to finish paying their workers' salaries and Eid bonus by May 20.

The decision was announced during a tripartite meeting with the union leaders, government high-ups and garment factory owners at Srama Bhaban in the capital.

Sufian also instructed the factory owners to observe zone-wise holidays to avoid transportation crisis and help the workers maintain social distancing during their travel to village homes.

SM Mannan (Kochi), senior vice president of BGMEA, confirmed this to Dhaka Tribune and said: “The Labour Ministry has set a time limit of May 10 to pay the wages, bonuses, and allowances. We welcome the decision.”

“We have appealed to the prime minister through the ministry to provide special arrangements for vaccination of our workers,” he also said.

The BGMEA senior vice president also said that the state minister was reminded about BGMEA's proposal for more stimulus for pay the wages, and to inform the prime minister about the request.

“We also informed that we are monitoring the implementation of the health directives at all the factories. We agree with the ministry's proposal to give Eid holidays to workers on different days depending on the zones. Holidays will be effective in garments of different zones on May 11-12,” he added.

Salauddin Swapan, acting president of IndustriALL Bangladesh Council (IBC), also confirmed and said that everyone in the meeting unanimously agreed the Labour Ministry's decision and that workers' wages will be paid from May 7-10.

Representatives from the owners were also present at the meeting and they have also welcomed this decision unconditionally, he also said.

We have demanded from IBC to arrange vaccines under special management for garment workers. The ministry has agreed to this proposal. The state minister assured that she would inform the prime minister about this issue soon, he added.

As evident in the previous years, several workers did not get their due wages on time, with workers of several factories even forced to stage demonstrations and sit-ins for getting them.